Sequential Fugue
images courtesy of the synth's owner,Leofrom Denver, Colorado
This is a pre historic synthesizer designed by Sequential Circuits and
built by Siel. It was built during the time that Sequential Circuits was a small "starving" company and didn't have the funding to built it on their own. The Siel company built it for them and marketed their version of is as the Siel Cruise.
Unlike all the rest of the synths from this era (mid 1970's) this was a
real editable combo synthesizer.
The 1st real mono synth to be built by Sequential circuits.
It operates as 2 independent synths.
Featuring:
- Piano: Piano 1, Clav, Piano 2
- Strings: Cello, Violin, Percution.
- Brass: Brass1, Brass2, Resonance and Swell (a VCF control section
for the Brass only)
- Organ: Organ 1, Organ 2, Pipe Organ.
All sounds and presets can be combined together for a richer sound
with the 4 push buttons. You don't lose any polyphony during a combo.
There is a "Poly Effect" section with Chorus and VCF Filter:
Attack/Decay and VC Attack/Decay.
The most Unique feature of this synth is the Solo/Mono section.
It is an independent Mono Synth with a Waveforms section that includes
10 waveforms preset (some combo's) and 10 waveforms "variable" (you can edit all 20 waveforms). Because of the Sliders On/Off you can change the waveforms during the performance and create a special sound rainbow.
There is a "Filter Section" with a
Full VCF Envelope Attack/Decay/Sustain/Release, Frequency and Resonance
sliders, and 2 slider "Depth" and "Speed" control the Vibrato .
Also there is the Solo Section for control:
- Vibrato slider
- Joystic for Pitch change
- Tuning screw and a Slider for "Glide" ( portamento depth )
There is also a Priority Left/Right control for notes.
You can split or layer with a level slider control per section.
On the back panel:
- 2 outputs: Poly and Solo
- Volume socket
- Sustain X 2: solo/poly
- Power Switch
Sequential Circuits designed the Fugue with many green and red lights
(led's) for easy operation per section and it also looks good in the dark. The main power of this synthesizer is the ability to play left hand chords and solo with the right hand (also backward with a nice bass sound). When you layer both sections you can create an intresting sound for solo or for chords with the mono sound taking priorities for Right or Left notes.
The mono Sound reminds me of the MiniMoog and the VCF filter can "scream" (Self Oscilate) or be totally "Lush". It is a fun synth that can easily create a beautiful desirable 70's sound - With a melody and the chords played both in the same time.
-this information provided by Leo of Denver, Colorado
